Retired, living in Western Mass. Enjoy music, cooking and my family.
Current cookers Weber Spirit 3 burner with a full insert griddle added. A 22" Kettle with vortex, SnS and a Smokey Joe. The most recent addition is a Pit Barrel Jr with bird hanger, 4 hooks and cover. ThermoWorks Smoke 2 probe, DOT, 2 ThermoPops and a Thermapen MK4. A Thermoworks RFX Gateway 2 probe meat thermometer.
I've never cleaned it. But the sweeper was difficult to sweep. I tried a hot burnoff. It worked while it was hot. So, I went to Weber and found a video. There are millions on YouTube but I wanted a simple search. Video attached. I added one step. After scraping with the S.S. brush (I used S.S. pads too), sprayed with Dawn Power Wash and let it sit a few minutes. Then soapy water and elbow grease. I did do more scraping too. End result is clean but not perfect. But the one touch sweeper now goes smoothly with no effort. I also placed the SnS DnG in. I expect it to be a permanent fixture to mitigate drippings. I really only use the Kettle for indirect with the SnS.
EDIT: lapse in memory. Used with the Vortex but I'll remove and use foil with a hole for the heat to focus up through the Vortex.
Smokin-It 3D
Weber Kettle with an SNS
Masterbuilt kettle that I call the $30 wonder grill
Bullet by Bull Grills gasser
Anova WiFi sous vide machine
Thermoworks Thermapen and Chef Alarm
The glass cleaner is something I haven’t used on the outside before. I do get some build up and then dust collects on it even after being covered. I need to deep clean my kettle, so will give that a try. I need to knock off the carbon build up on my Weber gasser as well, just need to remember to do before I start cooking next time at the lake. That’s when I always see that stuff, when I start cooking!
also, you mentioned the DnG - do you use that in place of foil on the indirect side of the grill? I know that makes a huge difference, for me having foil down (I don’t have a DnG).
Retired, living in Western Mass. Enjoy music, cooking and my family.
Current cookers Weber Spirit 3 burner with a full insert griddle added. A 22" Kettle with vortex, SnS and a Smokey Joe. The most recent addition is a Pit Barrel Jr with bird hanger, 4 hooks and cover. ThermoWorks Smoke 2 probe, DOT, 2 ThermoPops and a Thermapen MK4. A Thermoworks RFX Gateway 2 probe meat thermometer.
Kamado Joe Big Joe III
Pit Barrel Cooker
Camp Chef Flat Top 900
Weber Performer 22
PowerFlamer Propane 160
Meater +
Thermoworks Smoke
Thermoworks Thermapen
Temp Spike
All kidding aside, I tried using various brushes when I clean my kettles and they work but it takes some scrubbing. Out of curiously one day, I picked up this simple automotive tool I use to scrap engine gaskets, etc. and found it did a bang up job on kettle baked on grease. This product is Troutman approved
Instead of the DNG, I use 9x13 disposable pans. Doesn't quite cover the entire indirect area, but does cover the majority of it, and you can pitch it when you're done
I always put down a big sheet of tinfoil on the cold side to catch all the drippings, roll edges a bit, and it will catch about everything. I’m definitely in the clean kettle camp. My grates get cleaned with every cook, the inside gets rinsed out with a hose once a month, and once a month I also use a cleaner - wax on the outside,
yes, I know I’m in the minority.
Last edited by Richard Chrz; May 7, 2024, 08:26 AM.
This is what I was scrolling down to say. I would MUCH rather prevent a mess than clean one up. I don't let anything but ashes ever get below the charcoal grate. Heavy duty foil is my friend.
I bought the DnG when I bought my kettle and I use it all the time. It’s great. I’ve deep cleaned my kettle once since I had it and it was a PITA. The DNG really does help as I haven’t had the need to do that again. I watched one of Chuds videos where he cleaned his Weber kettle and made it look nice and shiny. I tried to make mine look shiny too. Instead it looked meh, and when I reattached the sweeper arms I did it incorrectly and they created whole set of new problems. So……I’m good for now.
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